Today's Opinions

There have been many suggestions that a town of Indian Land can’t be run on a budget of under $8 million per year. I understand how people with a long history around bloated government bureaucracies would believe that’s impossible. However, they are either unaware (or don’t want to admit) that there is a new way to create towns that breaks the traditional mold.

My name is Kevin Hall, and my wife and I are in our 11th year of farming at Hall Family Farm, the u-pick strawberry and pumpkin farm on U.S. 521 two miles north of the state line, on land that has been owned by the family for nearly a century. Recent events within the family led to the impending sale of the property.

What is the library of the future?
Does it have shelves with new releases and up-to-date periodicals tempting you as soon as you walk in the door? Is it an “on ramp” to the information highway with broadband internet access for all and book borrowing directly to your Kindle?
Can it be a place where local data is stored and shared widely so that everyone has access to important information about the future of our community? Or is it a gathering place with a coffee shop and a place for community meetings?

I read and re-read Sen. Greg Gregory’s guest column in the March 7 paper. The first half of the article expresses the senator’s anger, pain and frustration in response to the recent school shootings.
I understand and empathize with him. I admire his putting his conscience above his party. However, some of the remedies he proposes give me cause for concern.

As citizens of Lancaster County and surround areas, we all are concerned about the plight of our people and communities.
When we as God’s people humble ourselves and pray, and seek his face together in unity, we can tap into a power that can change lives, communities, cities and even nations.
Plans are under way for the annual Lancaster City and Countywide Unity Prayer Rally, which will be June 16 in downtown Lancaster.

After careful research, these are my reasons for voting no/opposed to incorporating the Panhandle of Lancaster County to be a 58-square-mile town of Indian Land.
◆ The proposed area to be incorporated is way too large, encompassing 40 square miles of farmland. Incorporation of that large of an area of rural farmland puts it in jeopardy, as agricultural protections under S.C. Chapter 46 do not apply in incorporated areas.

My name is Melvin Threatt. A few years ago, I was chairman of the Planning Commission for Lancaster County, so I understand how decisions are made about growth in Lancaster County.
The citizens of Indian Land have a great opportunity to decide its destiny March 27 at the voting polls.
The county has done a disservice to Indian Land over the past number of years, by way of uncontrolled growth with no plan. A yes vote on March 27 will put this community in charge of the future.

An important deadline is approaching for Lancaster County taxpayers – the closing of the county’s 2017 tax books, which takes place March 16.
This is an important step in the annual fiscal budgeting process for Lancaster County government, as it allows those who serve on county council, the school board, and town and city councils to determine how much tax revenue they will have to work with as they finish their 2018-19 budgets.